The Portland daily press., 1887-02-03
xLIXth CONGRESS- SECOND SESSION.
SENATE.

bills.
In the Senate today Mr.. George, from th,
committee on agriculture, reported back ia
vorably the House bill appropriating $1,000
Ito be Immediately availablej, for special dis
tributi0n OF seeds In the drought stricken
section OF Texas by the agricultural depart
ment.
The object and propriety Of the bill wer,
explained p by Mr.. Coke, who said that it ap
Piled to about 40 counties of Texas which
had suffered last year from drought thai
had destroyed all agricultural products
MT. Edmunds inquired whether the people
OF those counties could not buy seed on
credlt' Just as farmers Of other States did
Mr.. Coke said that the Texas Legislature
was now In session and was making prOvis-
ion for these people. This bill was in line
with the annual appropriations made for the
general distribution of seed.
Mr.. Hoar asked Mr.. Coke to state the con
stitutional ground on which he supported the
bill.
Mr.. Coke-Not at this time. Q4aughter)
Mr.. Hoar said he had hoped that il the
Senate voted to furnish seed to Texas, Texas
| would furnish constitutional law to the Sen
ate. He would, however, vote for the bill
| with great pleasure. He did not see why
| Congress should not make this slight addi-
tlon to the annual appropriation for seed and
| make it special.
| press the bill, out Of regard for the history
| ef Texas, that great empire State, old and
rich. He characterized the bill as 'passing
around the hat, and said that II the Legis-
lature Of that little State Of Connecticut
asked for $4,000 under such circumstances
| and got it he would resign.
| Mr. Coke repudiated the idea Of this bill
| being case of passing around the hat"
/ The State OF Texas was abundantly able to
| take care of her own people.
| After further discussion the bill was
| passed Yeas, 81; nays, 10.
Messrs. Blair, Dawes, Frye and Hoar voted
| for the bill, and Messrs. Edmunds Hale,
Hawley and Platt against the bill.
MT. Allison, chairman OF the committee on
appropriations, said that the Senator from
| Connecticut PlatD had inquired Of him yes
| terday whether or not there would be sur
| plus In the treasury in case Congress made
| appropriations this session in accordance
| with the estimates of the department. The
regular estimates Of the department as sub
mltted by the secretary Of the treasury
| amounted lin round numbers) to 1916 900 600
Since that time there had been supplimenta-
ry and other estimates amounting TO a con-
| siderable sum, for example, there was an es-
innate Of nearly So, 900 to carry out the
| provisions of the Mexican pension bill, no
| estimate had been submitted as to the disa-
| bilities of the pension bill which both Houses
had passed, but which had not yet received
| the signature OF the President. 1t was safe
to assume, however, that S7,000,O0O or S.
100000 would be required for that purpose.
Then there had been already submitted es-
Inmates for deficiencies amounting to 81, ,OOO,-
600 more. So that the total OF estimates for
the fiscal year without including miscela-
neous appropriations amounted TO $780,
100000
Mr.. Platt--Do these estimates of s395, ,OoO,
coo include any considerable amount Of coast
defence?
Mr.. Allison-They include S5,OO0,OOO for
Notifications. The total navy estimate is
S20,O00,000, so that assume these estimates
DO not include what we would regard as a
sufficient expenditure for coast defences or
for navy If we should enter on that subject.
Mr.. Platt-Five millions for fortifcations
are practically nothing
Mr.. Allison went on to analyze the various
sources Of revenue from which he summarized
that the total receipts Of the government for
the year would be S410,0 100000, leaving sur
plus OF only Sl5000,000, provided the full
amount called for in the estimates should be
appropriated. Referring TO the disposition
OF this surplus Mr.. Allison continued III
we comply with the law in relation to the
sinking fund, then we are compelled to buy
bonds in open market either A or per cent
bonds Of currency skies issued to the Pacific
railroad.
Mr.. Teller--Why does the Senator say, IF
we comply with the sinking fund law" Is
not that law Imperative. Can there be any
question but that the government win pro-
vide according to the law for the sinking
fund?
Mr.. Allison-There is question whether
the government Is bound to purchase its own
bonds In open market at a large premium
for the purpose Of complying with the sink
Ing fund requirement, while in fact the
sinking fund Is now over 500, 600 in ex-
cess OF the requirements at the very 0dtside.
Now II we are not to have for the next fiscal
year suplus exceeding $50,000,000, l want
TO be Ieckoned as an opponent OF any scheme
that VIII lessen that surplus, and do
not want this congress to adjourn
until 1t has provided in some way that a
all -Iwr 80 rf.far
shall be Immediately available TO commence
system Of coast defences. / think that
Congress Will be negligent of its duty,will be
justly and severely criticized by the people,
will have forgotten the best interests Of the
country, II 1t shall adjourn without having
made such provision; and for one want to
be counted as opposed TO any scheme that
will reduce the revenues Of this government
to point where there will not be plenty Of
money to inaugurate and carry on most Wig
orously thorough system Of coast defences.
Mr.. Beck said he thought that the surplus
revenue this year will be nearer S90,000,00
than S15,000,000.
Mr.; Teller discussed the sinking fund law,
and then said there were plenty wise OppOr-
tunities to pay out of the treasury the excess
Of revenue that was now there and all that
would come in next year, even il there should
be surplus of S90,000,000. A f0w DAYS ago
the admiral Of the navy had sent to distfn-
guished member Of the House a letter in
which the astounding statement was made
that the United States government had got
only one ship that could in three months do
service, and that ship had only one single
gun. The Dolphin was the only vessel that
the government had got which could be put
to sea within three months, and yet some
persons were crying out against surplus in
the treasury. The country was without for
titcatlon on the coast. Ali the great sea
ports Of the country could be raided by any
fifth rate naval power: By Chilli, China,
Japan or Spain, not only that but every city
on the great lakes was equally exposed.
Under the treaty with Great Britain the
United States had agreed to keep upon these
lakes, but one war vessel ard he under
stood that the vessel today had only a cast
iron gun, which was used to announce the
rising and setting of the sun, and was
scarcely good for that England could put
ON the great lakes fleet which could de-
str0y every town on those lakes in "a hours.
By canal England had access to the lakes
and could send three iron clads and war yes
| sells and lombard Chicago, Detroit Cleye-
and all the great cities Of the lakes. Was it
wisdom, therefore, or was it worth while
| for the Senate to spend its time in determin-
| ing what should be the reduction of the
revenue when there was necessity for such
vast expenditures? This country had not
only no war ships, and no fortfcations, but
had not any guns, In the letter to which
Of the Navy it was said 1t was not
twenty, or forty, or hundred new
| guns that were required but it was a
thousand. We were at the absolute mercy
of any people who might choose to assail u.s.
| Ships, fortihcatiOns, guns, could not be made
in day. A hundred million dollars was
stored in the treasury at San Francisco, and
a single iron clad could compel the author-
| ties to surrender 1t or suffer destruction Of
| the city. Yet Congress sat on from day 70
| day and considered whether the tax might not
be teken of, Of tobabco, or internal taxes be
repealed. 1t was the duty Of the legislative
| branch Of the government to take immediate
steps to prevent national disgrace The
people believed guns, and ships, and fortifi-
cations ought to be built, and he called at
tentlon TO the fact that % per cent Of ex-
| penditure would go to American labOrers.
| The bill was then reported from the COM
mittee of the whole to the Senate, and several
amendments were agreed to and the bill was
| passed.
| MIR. Dawes reported the Indian appropri-
alton bill, and gave notice he would ask 1t
be taken up tomorrow.
Adjourned.
HOUSE.
The House refused to pass a pension bill
| over the Presidents veto.
Mr. McAdoo introduced bill to provide
| guns Tor the navy and for sea coast defence
In committee of the whole no action of i'm
Portance was taken on the pleuro- pneumonia
| bill.
BOLD ATTEMpr